The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-01-15
HOW IL HAPPENED.
A Wild Voyage on the Adriatio
from Cattaro to Trieste.

Inc way IL HdDpcuti was httu w
go down to Montenegro TO conclude the
purchase of a large quantity Of oak timber
for our firm. While | was at Cattaro | re-
ceived dispatch announcing the failure OF
Carlovitch, Bissaldi & Che. and was or
dered TO return with all possible speed. IL
was Friday; Lloyd's boat had left the day
before and there would be no other until
Sun lay In my despair went to old A,
II. b. MS Consul there. 81 do not know
any way of assisting YOU" he SAID; there
is boat leaving for Trieste to-day, but 1t
is Baron Lndermann's yacht, and he Is
suddenly recalled by the serious illness OF
his daughter, 50 | don't suppose there ls
any chance for you there, old boy" After
had set forth the urgency of my case he
scratched his venerable head few mo-
ments and then said: "Well, / know the
captain of the Adria; he bought nincty-ive
tons Of coal from me, and seems to be
decent sort Of chap. (Any body IS de-
cent sort of a chap who buys old a 3
coal) He is down at the harbor Office
now getting his clearance papers, and says
he Is going to Trieste in thirty-six hours,
or blow the Adria to splinters"
Hes the boy for mel" | exclaimed q
reconsidered that verdict shortly after
ward). "Allonsy" We found the skipper
blowing the harbor- master up in the best
Servian he could command and swear
ing he would not wait ten minutes
longer for his papers. W hen stated my
case he shook his head very decidedly.
Couldn't think of it, SIR" he said, short
ly; 1.-THE Baron is in terrible state about
his daughter, and it would never do to
mention the matter to him; besides, sail
in fifteen minutes if that blasted land
lubber ever gets those blooming papers
ready" This was not promising recep-
ton, but was desperate and persisted in
my plea to be allowed to go along. Cap
tain NJ seemed to reflect moment, and
then said: well, young man Che himself
had attained the green old age OF twenty
tive), am running the risk OF mortally
offending the Baron and thereby losing
my position; but will take you, upon the
condition that you do not discover your
self to the Baron, and that you never men
ton the affair in Trieste
To this gladly agreed, and soon after
we pulled off to the Adria. When we came
alongside Captain NJ hustled me uncere-
moniously into his own state-room and
told me under no circumstances to show
myself on deck until he gave me permis-
sion.
"Bien," thought !, "this is rum treat.
ment from man who, ! had made up my
mind. was worthy only of my contempt
He immediately gave orders to heaye up
auchOr, and as soon AS "Anchor, speak,
STRIP was shouted by the boatswain, the
captain roarcd down the speaking tube to
the chief engineer. Then came the con
fused tramping of feet overhead; the
voices of the officers shouting multiplied
ty of orders, the hOarse chanting Of the
sailors as they set the sails, and all the
hustle attendant upon getting under way.
Pretty soon the heaving OF the yacht told
me that we had passed out Of the land
locked harbOr of Cattaro and were on the
open sea.
Time began to hang heavy on my hands
wondered if his Majesty had forgotten
me, or was pleased to keep me prisoner
for the entire voyage. Presently there
came tmid rap at the door, and in re
spouse to my Joyous idrUiN the little
Italian cabin boy poked his brown, monki-
fled face into the room and, with gravity
utterly at variance with his pcrs 0nal ap-
pearance and probably the result of nu-
merous thrashings, announced that II
rnpif1no Hoiep1 pdr'dlTHi htSSir II certainly
was surprising sight which met my eyes
upon going on deck. When | had been
conducted to my ignominIOus prison it was
splendid weather. the sun Just sinking
into the Adriatic amid glory of
purple and gold, and had been
wondering for the last half hour
what could induce the yacht to dance
about in such a beastly fashion. Now |
knew. 4 violent sroccO was in full blast 4;
the light was dark as pitch, except when
lurid fash of lightning showed the inky
storm clouds flying along overhead. Rain
fell in torrents; the yachts decks We're
flooded, and occasionally a great phOspho-
resent monster leaped over the brlwark7
and knocked off his feet any unfortunate
who happened to be in its path. The great
white capped waves flashing in the dark
ness were rather awful than otherwiS" {;
the white sails looked positively ghaS'iy.
and the roar of the wind and the waves
was terrific. Altogether, | think II WAS
about the most tempestuous night it wa-
ever my ill-fortune to encounter. Giu
intimated to me that the captain
was on the bridge, but how | was
to get there was the question. To attemot
it alone was as much as my life was worth,
and could not discern a soul on deck. |
explained my dilemma TO Clio, and, in an
swer to his hail, two forms came out of The
darkness right in front OF me, so suddenly
and unexpectedly that | involuntarily
started. They carried me almost bodily
TO the steps of the bridge and when had,
at the immin peril Of my life, clambered
up saw no one.
Directly voice came out Of the dark
ness. and form doomed up just at hand
Gong along lovely, isn't she"' said the
voice. "Yaas," said obviously, rather
too lovely, isn't she!" "No, per Baccor'
said he "she is logging fourteen and
one-half OF the reel, and il it comes on
little fresher I'll knock fifteen out of
her." Don't you think you are carry
ing on too muchi" suggested, "you know
these siroccos have been known to attain
the violence OF hurricanes at moment ;
notice, and it is a dangerous coast" by
GEORGE I" he exclaimed, shes got TO carry
every stitch until she clears Lagosta II II
rips the sticks out other. Id give her the
lib topsail if IL would draw, but the cursed
wind Is dead sstern.n This was yachting
with a vengeance. However, on his par